(a) What is the magnitude and direction of theelectric field produced by the two

Question

(a) What is the magnitude and direction of theelectric field produced by the two point charges at pointP, which is just above the surface of the Earth? 1

(b) Thinking of the Earth as a conductor, what sign of charge wouldaccumulate on the surface near point P? (This accumulatedcharge increases the magnitude of the electric field near pointP.) 3    

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In a thunderstorm, charge is separated through a complicatedmechanism that is ultimately powered by the Sun. As shown in the figure below, a simplified model of thecharge in a thundercloud represents the positive charge accumulatedat the top and the negative charge at the bottom as a pair of pointcharges. In this particular case, h = 2.2 km. (a) What is the magnitude and direction of theelectric field produced by the two point charges at pointP, which is just above the surface of the Earth? 1 (b) Thinking of the Earth as a conductor, what sign of charge wouldaccumulate on the surface near point P? (This accumulatedcharge increases the magnitude of the electric field near pointP.)

Explanation / Answer

a)    The electric field at P due to -20C is givenby               E1 = (8.90*109 N.m2/C2)(20C)/(2.2*103 m)2 The electric field atP due to 50C is given by               E2 = (8.90*109 N.m2/C2)(50C)/(10*103 m)2 The net electric field is                E = E1 - E2                  =  (8.90*109 N.m2/C2)(20 C)/(2.2*103m)2 -  (8.90*109 N.m2/C2)(50 C)/(10*103m)2 Simplifying we get the answer.    b)   postivecharge.            The net electric field is                E = E1 - E2                  =  (8.90*109 N.m2/C2)(20 C)/(2.2*103m)2 -  (8.90*109 N.m2/C2)(50 C)/(10*103m)2 Simplifying we get the answer.    b)   postivecharge.           

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